“We will be sitting in small circles at the park to count birds within a designated area,” said Guigley. “Anyone from novice to experienced birders are welcome to sign up for a time slot as long or short as they’d like, or simply stop by and sit.”

The Big Sit is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher's Digest and founded by the New Haven, Connecticut Bird Club. The free event is similar to a bird-a-thon, with the goal being to tally as many bird species - seen or heard – in one small area within a certain time period.

Big Sit circles now take place all over the world, including Guatemala, India, the Netherlands, England, Vietnam and New Zealand.

At 318 acres, PEAR Park is the largest county park and an ideal location for The Big Sit in Lake County. The back 268 acres feature a community garden, native butterfly garden, xeric garden, two scenic pavilions and access to four miles of hiking and nature trails through meadows, scrub jay habitats and woods along the Palatlakaha River. The front 50 acres is known as the Gateway and contains a playground, ballfields and a dog park